House Lead

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The House Leader, Child Care Services is an integral member of the management team. Reporting to the Manager, Child Care Services - Child Support Unit, this role directs all activities in the TCOC home associated with providing holistic care for the children. Accountabilities include scheduling and managing a staff complement, identifying and/or providing children with programs and activities in support of their well-being and culture as well as managing a wide-range of child care related issues. Additional responsibilities include ensuring all policies, legislation and protocols are followed and that the overall functioning of the assigned home is operating in a safe, efficient and effective manner.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Ensures all programming, appointments, medications, visits, reminders and any other matters relating to individual or collective child care needs are identified, recorded and initialed daily by self or staff on duty.
- Reviews the daily records/information from the previous shift and initializes.
- Schedules children for events and activities and communicates with staff accordingly; identifies additional age-appropriate activities/programming for the children in the home in support of their learning and growth (e.g. baking, planting/watering flowers, reading, games, etc) and ensures staff actively engage children through participation; works with other team members to provide activities/events in support of the children’s growth/development as appropriate.
- Makes appointments and transports children to appointments (e.g. medical, dental, eye, hearing, counselling, pediatrician, immunizations); completes physician report and forwards.
- Supervises Assistant House Leaders and Child Care Providers and provides on-going direction and feedback; follows up on staff or other issues identified by Assistant House Leaders without delay.
- Handles scheduling of Assistant House Leaders and Child Care Providers and sources additional resources if staff/child ratio does not meet standard.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Communicates expectations, policies and procedures with staff and ensures adherence; keeps staff informed of items requiring attention or follow-up.
- Handles performance related issues with staff and provides performance related feedback and/or administers disciplinary procedures; informs the Manager of Child Care Services as required.
- In coordination with the Manager of Child Care Services and Human Resources, responds to human resource matters or grievances.
- Provides on-site orientation for new employees, ensuring they understand all requirements and the importance of documentation and safety and following policies/procedures; signs the orientation checklist and has the employees sign; forwards to Human Resources.
- Plans menus for meals; purchases groceries; prepares and serves meals based on the Canada Food Guide; ensures food handling/storage follows appropriate safety guidelines; purchases other items as required; retains and submits receipts and retains a record of purchases and child allowances
- Arranges safety/emergency drills monthly including fire drills and documents; notes issues and follows up accordingly; identifies hazards and implements safeguards as appropriate.
- Handles injuries incurred by children and/or takes to the doctor/emergency or calls 911; completes an injury report and notifies the Manager of Child Care Services immediately; follows up on injuries sustained during alternate shifts.
- Completes required documentation for a staff member who may sustain an injury on the job.
- Handles in-take process for children placed in the home; ensures all documentation is completed.
- In coordination and collaboration with the Ministry of Social Services and other team members, completes an assessment of the level of supervision, caregiver support and expectations required to facilitate in-home visits; advocates or supports visits from family members in TCOC homes; encourages and supports staff to establish / maintain positive relationships with family members.
- Works with other team members to facilitate volunteers or mentors for the children and ensures the Child Care Services Director and Manager is fully apprised of any initiatives in this regard.
- Identifies behavioral issues and responds appropriately ensuring the child, other children and staff are safe; calls crisis team members and/or the Manager as deemed appropriate.
- Follows up with Assistant House Leaders in alternate shifts if there are new children placed in the home or if there are behavioral / other issues that transpire.
- Ensures the Manager of Child Care Services is kept apprised of any issues, trends or opportunities that may impact the effective and efficient delivery of child care services; determines if any issues require escalation to the Manager.
- Attends OH&S Committee meetings and/or participates in OH&S related initiatives to ensure the safety of self, children and staff;